GUELPH, Ont. - Playing host to their first OUA playoff game since 2018, the Guelph Gryphons showed a lot of character Wednesday night at the GGAC. Coming in to the post-season as the OUA's eight-seed and hosting the nine-seed McMaster Marauders, the Gryphons put together an unbelievable comeback, however, it was not quite enough as the Marauders advanced to the quarter-finals with a 93-88 win.
Despite their season coming to an end in heart-breaking fashion, the Gryphons gave every single member of the Gryphon faithful plenty to cheer about and to be proud of.
In the beginning, the Gryphons were able to get their offence rolling through the early stages, which was necessary as McMaster was flying as well. With both teams quickly getting in to double-digits, the Marauders were able to create a little bit of separation towards the end of the quarter. Using a couple of three point shots, McMaster took a 30-23 lead in to the second.
After the visitors were able to open up a nine point lead in the second quarter, the Gryphons began to chip away. Continuing to fight, Guelph was able to get the McMaster lead all the way down to just one point. Unfortunately for the home side, the Marauders were able to put together a quick 6-0 run in the final minute of the half and held a 48-41 advantage at the half.
Trying to figure out a way to slow down a strong McMaster offence, the Gryphons entered the second half looking to get the Marauders off of the three-point line. However, contested or uncontested, the visitors stayed hot from the field forcing the Gryphons to try and keep up. Although a difficult task, Guelph managed to stay close being outscored just 19-17 in the third.
With the deficit reaching as large as 16 for Guelph during the third quarter, the Gryphon's ability to get the McMaster lead down to single-digits before the fourth began proved to be very important.
Down only 67-58 after three, the Gryphons began to roll late in the fourth. Still trailing by nine midway through the quarter, the home side put all kinds of pressure on McMaster. Making a couple of big threes down the stretch, Guelph found themselves down 80-77 with 43 seconds to play. On their ensuing offensive series, the ball got kicked out to Modupe Okeowo in the corner who drilled a game tying three. However, after the Marauders went back down the court and scored with four seconds to go, Guelph suddenly had very little time and trailed 82-80. Out of a time-out, the Gryphons worked the ball in to Ivana Vujadinovic and she went hard to the hoop getting a difficult lay-up to fall as the buzzer sounded sending the contest to overtime and brought the Gryphons all the way back to even terms.
Unfortunately, the overtime saw the Marauders continue to shoot lights out and ultimately go on to win 93-88.
"The character from our team was significant tonight, and has been significant all season long with our girls," said Gryphon's head coach Mark Walton. "It doesn't ever matter what a team's lead is, we keep fighting and the girls continue to comeback. For us to do that, it does show great character."
"Tonight though, we just weren't able to guard the arch. They made fourteen threes and we made eight and that was essentially the game."
Leaving everything she had on the court, Gryphon's forward Burke Bechard led her team with a near triple-double performance. Leading the team in points, rebounds and assists, Bechard tallied 26 points and twelve rebounds, while also collecting eight assists. Skyla Minaker had a strong showing as well for the Gryphs collecting a double-double with 17 points and ten rebounds. Also finishing the game with double digit points was Vujadinovic with twelve.
With the loss the Gryphons 2019-20 season has come to an end, while the Marauders will move on to the OUA quarter-finals to battle the Western Mustangs on Saturday.
